Organic Food Label Deadline Approaching

EU - Organic food producers and processors must adhere to new labeling rules before the full implementation of EU legislation.

By the end of June, a new Europe-wide symbol for UK organic food – and the accompanying wording – must be used on certified produce.

Organic Farmers & Growers, which inspects and certifies organic food and farming, is highlighting the risks producers and processors face if they fail to ensure all of their packagingmeets the requirements.

The organisation’s certification and compliance manager, Steve Clarkson, said: “Based on the feedback we are getting from the industry generally, we have concerns that the approaching deadline hasn’t reached the ears of everyone who needs to know. There has been no central alert or notification to all organic operators from the EU or Defra, but that doesn’t provide a defence for anyone who falls foul of the regulation.

“Quite simply, from the first day of July this year, a product that has been pre-packaged in an EU member state and which does not carry the correct EU symbol and wording will be breaking the law and, as this is not an overnight change but one that has enjoyed a two-year transition, there will be few, if any, legitimate excuses available.”